WONDERFUL DISPLAYS AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
Those that journeyed to Shelbourne Park on Saturday night certainly left feeling they got their money’s worth with so many wonderful displays.
The semi-finals of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 were box office with the judge called into action in both, while Liam Dowling stole the headlines in the second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial as he recorded a wonderful treble.
The semis of the Yvonne Barry 600 were evidence that the 600yd trip is criminally underused. One of the great tests of a racing greyhound, it invariably provides a wonderful spectacle and that was the case in both semi-finals of the valuable stake.
PICKLE POWER
Coosane Pickles emerged on top in the opening semi, charging up the long home straight to collar the long-time leader Lookandlep in a thrilling finish.
The latter flashed from trap three and dictated the pace into the turn. Coosane Pickles was second but Ballinabola Jim displayed signs of his old brilliance, going second on the corner to take up the chase.
The order remained unchanged to the third turn but it was here that Coosane Pickles began to make her move. Slipping past the massive Ballinabola Jim at this point, she was just a length down on Lookandlep halfway between the final two bends and looking very threatening.
However, she threw the leader a lifeline off the final turn by swinging very wide. It allowed Lookandlep to maintain his advantage but it was only short term. Coosane Pickles flew up the straight to lead late for Clement Ryan and Michael O’Donovan. The brilliant daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pickles took the verdict by a half length in 32.47. Lookandlep ran his heart out in second with Ballinabola Jim finishing three and a half lengths further adrift.
JOE HOLDS ON IN A THRILLER
The second heat provided an even closer finish with the Pat Buckley trained Ballinabola Joe somehow containing De Lahdedah in a remarkable finish.
Ballinabola Joe, owned by the Murphy Ballinabola Syndicate, didn’t break as smartly as seven days earlier but still forced his way to the front into the turn.
He was under severe pressure, however. 2024 English Derby champion De Lahdedah was right on his heels. Ballinabola Joe did everything he could to increase his advantage to halfway but he could never shake off De Lahdedah. Mydras Opinion was a close third at this point but could never get close enough to prove a threat.
Instead, the front two began to ease on. Less than two lengths separated the pair as they hit the third turn but De Lahdedah was moving with purpose. Ballinabola Joe was in no humour to give up his lead, however.
Running a tremendous bend, he was still in charge as they hit the home straight and dug very deep on the long run for the line. De Lahdedah was relentless in his pursuit and closed but the line just came in time for Ballinabola Joe with the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Ballinabola Ruby holding on by the shortest of short heads in 32.26. For the second week running, Borna Show flew home. He would finish two lengths back in third.
Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600
Final draw
1 DE LAHDEDAH
2 LOOKANDLEP
3 BORNA SHOW (M)
4 BALLINABOLA JOE (W)
5 COOSANE PICKLES (W)
6 BALLINABOLA JIM (W)
******
DOWLING DOMINATES IN MERRIMAN MEMORIAL
It’s fair to say Liam Dowling had his team purring for the second round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial as he won three of the four heats with Ballymac Altobel, Ballymac Gloria and ImNot Cynical all impressing in their respective heats.
Altobel was first into action in Heat 2 and he made light work of his task, powering right away from his rivals to emerge a facile seven length scorer in a stunning 28.15. Third into the back straight behind Progression and Innfield Trinity, the son of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta turned on the afterburners as he hit halfway.
Going to the front on the third turn, the exciting youngster ran right away to beat Innfield Trinity with incredible ease. Progression was another three lengths away in third.
GLORIA TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Ballymac Gloria also won by seven lengths from Dowling.
Disputing the lead in the early yards, she asserted on the corner and proceeded to draw right away. The daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Wisdom was relentless thereafter as she saw off the always second Tarsna Blaze in a very quick 28.26. Riptide Troika ran on best to finish a length further adrift in third.
CYNICAL COMPLETES DOWLING TREBLE
The task of Im Not Cynical was made somewhat easier in the final heat as the warm favourite Ello Ello and his main market rival Gallant Prince fell from traps.
In contrast, Im Not Cynical broke smartly from the inside box and was soon in charge.
Trained by Liam Dowling for the DBSD Syndicate, the daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta would dominate. Advantage Rule ran well in second but Ballymac Gloria emerged a length and a half to the good in 28.41. Matts Meraki was another five lengths back in third.
LANSKY LEAVES IT LATE
The opening heat of the Paddy Merriman Memorial also happened to the be the first on the card and Lansky emerged a tremendous winner for Michael Keenan and the L-T-D Syndicate.
Magical Max set the pace for much of the way but he was to run out of steam on the run in and Lansky was best placed to take advantage.
The son of Airmount Nando and Million Dreams led late to score by a neck in 28.42. Magical Max would take second with Down To the Wire a length away in third.
EXCLUSION IMPRESSES AGAIN
For the second week running, Exclusion Order was hugely impressive for Graham Kelly and Thomas McKevitt as he took the opening semi-final of the Shelbourne AA0 V Shelbourne Maidens Shootout. Again, perfectly drawn in the stripes, he had to show fine early speed to get across Phoenix Memphis into the bend.
Once doing so, it was all one-way traffic. Sunshine Sioux did stay on well to grab second but Exclusion Order was simply too good on this occasion. Despite very wet conditions, he emerged a comfortable four length winner in 28.33.
SLICK OFF THE MARK
Droopys Slick finally got off the mark in the second semi.
Jacktavern Storm set the pace into the corner and down the back straight but the Robert Gleeson trained Droopys Slick was always too close in second.
Showing fine pace down the back straight, he would sweep past the leader between the last two bends. From there, Paul Allen’s son of Droopys Sydney and Droopy Fia eased on to score by two and a half lengths in 28.57.
HIDALGO GOES QUICK
The rain may have been at its heaviest ahead of the second semi-finals of the Yvonne Barry Bookmakers A0 525 but it failed to stop Lemon Hidalgo from going very quick.
Tom Lennon’s son of Ballymac Best and Lemon Ariana was brilliant.
Displaying superior early sped to those around him, he struck the front before the corner and quickly moved into a decisive lead. Relentless throughout, Lemon Hidalgo would go on to beat Clonnloch Cliste by six and a half lengths in a brilliant 28.23.
BEHAVING A REAL PRO
Badly Behaving was at her professional best when winning the opening semi-final.
The Shaun Conway trained daughter of Ballymac cashout and Ballymac Cams displayed fine early dash after a fast start to dictate into the bend and she quickly increased her lead to halfway.
At no point did she seem in danger although she did come back to the chasing pack in the closing yards. However, the St Patrick’s Valentia Crew Syndicate owned bitch would hold on to score by a length from Elite Kursk in 28.84.